Easter Chicks Butter Cookies Spring is one of my favorite times of year. The grass begins to green, the trees sprout new leaves, the flowers start to peek out from the ground.....and the chicks begin to hatch! To help gear up for the Easter season I have been focusing on fun Easter goodies and treats. I home school so I look for any excuse to incorporate fun treats into my curriculum! These Easter Chick Butter Cookies were a fit with both the Spring season and homeschooling...oh and did I mention they were a HUGE HIT with the kids! They enjoyed getting messy while dipping the cookies in chocolate, eating the coconut before it could even make it to the cookie and loved eating the left over candy! We had a blast making these adorable Easter Chicks Butter Cookies!   Butter Cookies Ingredients -   1 C. butter, softened 1 ¼ confectioners sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. Vanilla 1 1/2 C. flour 1 tsp. Baking soda ¼ tsp. Salt   Directions: Preheat … [Read more...]

Strawberry Glazed Strawberry Bread Recipe It is almost Strawberry season here in Colorado. I can see the the white buds starting to appear. I can't wait! I love fresh strawberries and I use them in almost everything all summer long. From smoothies to salads they are one of the most universal fruits that I know of! Ingredients  12 table spoons of butter (1 1/2 sticks of butter)- room temp or melted. 2 1/3 cup of Granulated sugar  3 Large Eggs 1/2 cup of finely chopped strawberries (Can be done in a blender of food processor) 2 3/4 cup of flour 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder A pinch of salt 3/4 cup of strawberry puree (Can do this in a lender or food processor) 3/4 cup of strawberry Greek Yogurt 1 tea spoon of vanilla  1/8 tea spoon of strawberry flavor if you want it to be more strawberry  Directions Preheat over to 350 degrees. (Makes two loafs- Use two loaf pans)  First start by mixing your … [Read more...]

Mint Cake Pops           I love making Cake Pops. Especially when I get to decorate them with my little girl! These Mint Cake Pops are perfect for St. Patrick's Day and are sure to be a family pleaser! Ingredients: 2 C Sugar 1 3/4th C All-Purpose Flour 3/4 C Cocoa 1 1/2 t Baking Soda 1 1/2 Baking Powder 2 Eggs 1 t Salt 1 C Milk 1/2 C Vegetable Oil 2 t Mint Extract 1 C Boiling Water 1 bag of cake pop sticks (you can get them from Michaels or Walmart) Directions: Heat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a deep cookie sheet Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl. Add your eggs, milk, oil, and mint. Beat with a mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water then pour onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cake cool in baking sheet. Once cake is cooled cut into big squares and crumble cake into a big mixing bowl. Set aside. Frosting … [Read more...]

Gender Reveal Cupcakes [amd-yrecipe-recipe:1]     Icing 3 cups confectioners' sugar 1 cup butter 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream 2 batches of Butter Cream Frosting and fit a plastic piping bag with large decorating tips Draw one thin line of pink food coloring and one thin line of blue food coloring on either side of the plastic bag. Gently fill the bag with frosting, being careful not to touch the food coloring with your spatula. Twist the end and squeeze until both colors are coming out the tip. Pipe a swirl on top of each cupcake, from the outside in towards the center, covering the secret colored heart.     … [Read more...]

Maple Bacon Cupcakes   I love Maple and Bacon together. The sweet with the salty is a perfect match. Even in these amazing Maple Bacon Cupcakes! Yum! Batter Ingredients: 4 1⁄2 tablespoons butter at room temperature 1⁄2 tablespoon bacon drippings (solid) 1 egg 5 tablespoons brown sugar 4 tablespoons maple syrup 1 1⁄4 cups self rising flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder tiny pinch salt 1⁄4 cup milk 1⁄4 cup of cooked minced bacon Directions for Batter: - Cook  bacon in a fry pan (I used one pound). - Reserve the drippings and place in the fridge to solidify. - Mince 1/4 a cup of the bacon. - Beat the butter and solidified bacon fat until light and creamy. - Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and beat well until combined. - Add the egg and beat until incorporated. - Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and powder together. - Add some of the flour and mix, then some of the milk. - Continue to alternate the dry and wet ingredients, … [Read more...]

Cotton Candy Cupcakes   I can't get enough of Cotton Candy this year. From ice cream and candy to cupcakes and bubble gum. I keep finding this flavor everywhere. I must say that I am so happy to be surrounded by Cotton Candy flavors. I love, Love, LOVE Cotton Candy! That is why I am excited to share with you all this great Cotton Candy Cupcake recipe! I hope you enjoy it a much as I did!   Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter softened 1/2 cup sour cream 1 egg, plus 2 egg yolks, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup cotton candy Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and place to the side. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter, sour cream, egg, yolks, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in the cotton candy until evenly distributed -do not over … [Read more...]

Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes To me there is nothing better then Maraschino Cherries. I love them in soda, on ice cream and in my cupcakes! They just make everything in life a little sweeter! Yields: 18 cupcakes Time: 1 hour 25 minutes Ingredients: Cupcakes: 1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, drained, liquid reserved 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter 1 ¼ cups sugar ½ cup maraschino cherry liquid ¼ cup whole milk 2 teaspoons almond extract 2 egg whites, beaten Optional: pink food color Frosting: Reserved 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry liquid 1 cup butter, softened 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar 2 teaspoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt Garnish: 18 maraschino cherries with stems Directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line regular-size muffin cups with paper baking cups; set aside. Finely chop cherries and place in paper-towel-lined … [Read more...]

Chocolate Strawberry Heart Shaped Pie Valentines Day is just around the corner and this year I would love to make something extra special for my husband and daughter. I think that these Chocolate Strawberry Heart Shaped Pies will not only have the perfect flavors for Valentines Day but will be festive and taste amazing! I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see these adorable little heart shaped pies!     Ingredients 1 ½ Cups Strawberries, chopped ¼ Cup Sugar 1 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips 2 Pkg. Refrigerated Pie crusts (4 crusts total) Egg Flour for dusting   Directions: Preheat the oven to 425˚. In a bowl place the Strawberries and ¼ cup of sugar, let sit for 10-15 minutes stirring every five minutes until a syrup forms. In a microwave safe bowl melt the Chocolate at 50% power for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth, add to the strawberries and stir until well combined. Take the crusts out of the … [Read more...]

  S'more Brownies S'more Brownie Ingredients -   ¾ C. flour 2 C. semi-sweet chocolate 2 tbs cocoa powder 4 tbs. butter 3 eggs 1 ½ C. sugar ½ C. packed brown sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla extract 1 tsp. Baking powder ½ tsp. Salt 2 tbs. sugar 1 C. graham cracker crumbs 3 tbs. melted butter or margarine 1 bag of large marshmallows (you will need approximately 45 marshmallows cut into thirds for your S'more layer)   (2) 12 ct. muffin tins or 15 Silicone Baking cups (optional but highly recommended and awesome = easy clean-up!!) Directions -   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.   #1. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.   #2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter and chocolate in 15-20 second increments, stirring until completely melted. Let cool 2-3 minutes.   #3. In another bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add in the melted chocolate … [Read more...]

Almond Joy Brownies My Mom is a sucker for coconut and she loves Almond Joy bars. As I was trying to come up with something creative for Mother's Day I decided to take her favorite candy to the next level and make her some Almond Joy Brownies! Almond Joy Brownies Ingredients -   ¾ C. flour 2 C. semi-sweet chocolate 2 tbs cocoa powder 4 tbs. butter 3 eggs 1 ½ C. sugar ½ C. packed brown sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla extract 1 tsp. Baking powder ½ tsp. Salt 10-12 Almond Joy candy bars   8x8 or 9x9 baking pan   Frosting ingredients -   ¼ C. butter or margarine, softened 1/3 C. cocoa 2 C. powdered sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla 3 tbs milk   Directions -   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish with foil and spray with a non-stick spray.   #1. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.   #2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter … [Read more...]